Basketball game having spring ring ball retaining means



Jan. 9, 1968 w. B. WAGNER 3,362,712

BASKETBALL GAME HAVING SPRING RING BALL RETAINING MEANS Filed July 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Illll 24 j 29 q, 58K) min; I H I 56 O 1.

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INVENTOR. l/V/LL/AM 5 W/m/vm HTTORNEY Jan. 9, 1968 w. B. WAGNER 3,362,712

BASKETBALL GAME HAVING SPRING RING BALL RETAINING MEANS Filed July 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Shet 2 I 27-- l3 a 14 l 'l "lllI I|||.// Hm! V/ //,II //l l 20 H J U L 2| I l I4 35 INVENTOR. W/LL/AMB WAGNER HTTORNEY United States Patent 3,362,712 BASKETBALL GAME HAVING SPRING RING BALL RETAINING MEANS William B. Wagner, 433 E. 72nd St., New York, N.Y. 10021 Filed July 30, 1965, Ser. No. 475,946 8 Claims. (Cl. 273-95) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A basketball game incorporating one or more baskets on a backboard with an inclined ball return to a platform having a manually actuated control, or controls, for moving spring ring-type ball retaining means in the basket, or baskets, the balls being released by the manually controlled means on the platform. Further, the platform includes recording means operated by ball actuated switch means when the ball is retained in the basket or baskets by the spring ring retaining means.

This invention relates to a basketball game which, in various sizes, can be played indoors or outdoors, wherein the game includes a series of baskets, each having an electrically actuated ball release where a corresponding number of balls are employed for positioning in designated baskets in the playing of a modified form of basketball game. More particularly, the invention deals in a means for scoring the baskets made automatically in the release of the balls from the baskets.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the game in setup condition, with part of the construction broken away.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the game, with part of the construction broken away.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the basket frame and ball holding means, the netting of the basket frame being omitted for sake of simplicity; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional plan view of the ball release means showing the same in holding position in full lines and in release position in dot-dash lines.

In the drawing, represents generally a front platform, 11 a backboard having suitable side supports 12, 13 are the baskets. 14 represents the ball retaining means. 15 is the inclined ball returning member. The platform 10 comprises a box-shaped ball receiver .16, into which the balls are delivered from 15 in the playing of the game. At 17 is shown the button switch mechanism for actuating the retaining means 14 in the release of the balls. At 18 is diagrammatically illustrated the scoring panel.

At 19 are shown top and side nettings forming an environment around the backboard 11, as well as at sides of the member 15. These nettings have suitable supports, as illustrated, in part, at 19'. Y

Considering FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, at 20 is shown a plunger-type solenoid and at 21 is shown a suitable microswitch for actuating the several illuminated number scores 22, 23 and 24 on the scoring panel 18. The switches 21 of each basket are actuated by a basketball 25 as and when the ball is positioned in the basket, as diagrammatically seen in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of a game of the type and kind under consideration, the nettings on the 3,362,712 Patented Jan. 9, 1968 three baskets which are shown can be red on the basket 26, white on the basket 27 and blue on the basket 28. The switch buttons 29, 30 and 31 can control the red, White and blue baskets, respectively, in the release of the basketballs when positioned in such baskets. Here, it will be understood that the three balls employed in playing the game will preferably be colored red, white and blue and, in playing the same, the object would be to put the red ball in the red basket, the white ball in the white basket and the blue ball in the blue basket. Rules can be made in the playing of the game that, if the wrong color ball is positioned in the wrong basket, a reduction in the scoring can be made against the player executing this improper positioning of the ball. The rules can also provide that each player will have a predetermined number of turns with each ball for positioning the same in a basket. A perfect score would be the positioning of each color ball in its associated color basket within the number of turns provided for accomplishing this end result.

Considering FIG. 3 of the drawing, 32 shows the frame of each basket, from which the enclosed colored netting is suspended.

The ball retaining means 14 comprises a spring open ring 33, note FIG. 4, normally of a diameter smaller than the diameter of the ball 25 so that a ball positioned in the basket will seat on the ring 33. The free end of the ring 33 has an extending arm 34 normally arranged in alinement with the plunger 35 of the solenoid 20 so that, in operation of one of the button switches 29, 30, 31, the plunger will extend the ring 33 to the position diagrammatically shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4 of the drawing, thus opening this ring sufficiently to allow the basketball to drop freely through the basket onto the incline 15 for return to playing platform 10. In this return of the balls, the balls are directed by angular side pieces 36 at the lower ends of the member 15 to a channel 37 between 17 and 18 for positioning in a front compartment 38 in the platform 10, as will appear from a consideration of FIG. 1 of the drawing.

The illustration in the accompanying drawing is what can be regarded as a simple form of the game and, in more elaborate constructions of the game for amusement places of various types and kinds, a greater number of baskets can be employed, as well as a greater number of balls and the characterizations associating the balls with the respective baskets can be of any type or kind. In other words, numbers, symbols or characters of different types and kinds can be used instead of the different colors as mentioned heretofore. From this latter standpoint, the height of the baskets with respect to the players can be consistent with the standards in the game of basketball, as well as location of the baskets with respect to the players, at least from the standpoint of playing the basket shots as usually played in the game of basketball in the event of fouls or any other misplays. In this manner, players having had the experience of playing basketball can not only be entertained, but would have the practice of performing these shots and to test their accuracy in performing the shots.

Here, it is also to be kept in mind that the method of scoring can be modified to suit the particular arrangement of the game as, for example, the number of successive baskets scored by a player in any one basket.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A game of the character defined comprising a front platform, a backboard spaced from and in raised position with respect to the platform, an inclined ball return member spaced between the backboard and platform for returning a ball from the backboard to said platform, a ring-type basket supported on and projecting from the ice surface of the backboard, ball retaining spring ring means associated with and in vertical alinement with said basket, manually controlled means on the platform for moving said last named means from a ball retaining position to a ball releasing position, and means for retaining a ball within the environment of the backboard and said ball return member.

2. A game as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring ring means includes an extending arm, said manually controlled means including -a switch actuating a solenoid adjacent said arm for movement of the arm and spring ring means into ball releasing position.

3. A game as defined in claim 2, wherein an electric switch is exposed in the basket above said spring ring means and actuated by a ball supported in the basket by said spring ring means, and means on the platform for recording actuation of said switch.

4. A game as defined in claim 1, wherein other baskets, similar to the first named basket, are supported on the backboard, a plurality of balls corresponding in number to the number of baskets employed, the baskets and balls having corresponding identifications to associate each ball with a specific basket, each basket including a switch arranged above said ball retaining spring ring means and actuated by a ball positioned in the basket, and means on the platform for recording actuation of the switch in each basket.

5. A game of the character defined comprising a front platform, a backboard spaced from and in raised position with respect to the platform, an inclined ball return member spaced between the backboard and platform for returning a ball from the backboard to said platform, a ring-type basket supported on and projecting from the surface of the backboard, ball retaining means associated with and in vertical alinement with said basket, electrically actuated means on the platform for moving said last named means from a ball retaining position to a ball releasing position, means for retaining a ball within the environment of the backboard and said ball return membet, said electrically actuated means comprising a solenoid, and said ball retaining means comprising a spring ring having an extending arm positioned adjacent said solenoid and actuated by the solenoid in moving said spring ring into extended position for release of a ball from said retaining means as and when the electrically actuated means of the platform is operated.

6. A game as defined in claim 5, wherein other baskets, similar to the first named basket, are supported on the backboard, a plurality of balls corresponding in number to the number of baskets employed, the baskets and balls having corresponding identifications to associate each ball with a specific basket, each basket including a switch arranged above said ball retaining spring ring and actuated by a ball positioned in the basket, and means on the platform for recording actuation of the switch in each basket.

7. A game as defined in claim 6, wherein said third named means comprises a netting at the top of said backboard and at sides of the backboard and said ball return member.

8. A game as defined in claim 6, wherein the basket includes a depending net enveloping the major portion of the ball retaining means, and said third named means comprises a netting at the top of the backboard and at sides of the backboard and said ball return member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 867,935 10/ 1907 Parker 273-105 1,558,401 10/1925 Sato 273-103 X 1,574,201 2/1926 Lynch 273-103 1,577,959 3/1926 Dunne 273I03 X 2,617,653 11/1952 Keller 273-103 X 2,893,734 7/1959 Tarte 273 X ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner. 

